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District Elections Discussion

Last week, the City received a letter from a Malibu-based attorney challenging San Rafael’s at-large election structure based on an alleged history of “racially polarized voting.” Following a study session on November 20, the City Council will continue the conversation about district-based elections and the City’s options on how to proceed. The topic is planned to be...

Cannabis Regulations

On November 8, 2016, the voters of the State of California enacted Proposition 64 to allow for non-medical/recreation adult-use. On Monday evening, the City Council will consider an ordinance regulating commercial cannabis activity in San Rafael city limits. The proposed law will allow a limited number of certain types of commercial operations, as well as...

General Plan Steering Committee Appointments

General Plans have been called the blueprint for the community’s future. At their Monday meeting, the City Council will appoint members to a steering committee to oversee the development of the General Plan 2040. The multi-year planning process will help us develop a vision of what we all want San Rafael to be in 2040. READ...

Multi-Use Pathway Review

Also on Monday evening, the City Council will review the environmental clearance for a multi-use pathway along the SMART rail line south of Second Street. This is an important section of the pedestrian and bicycle connection from Downtown to the Cal-Park tunnel and Larkspur ferry. READ THE STAFF REPORT

Facility Repair Worker I, II, and III

Civic Center Drive Right of Way

Working closely with the City, the County of Marin incorporated a portion of the City’s Promenade Plan and Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan concepts into its design for the Civic Center Drive project. At Monday night’s meeting City Council will consider vacating an unneeded portion of the City’s Civic Center Drive right-of-way in order to...

Nominations for 2018 Citizen of the Year

Each year, we recognize a member of the community for their contributions in making San Rafael an amazing place to live and work. If you know someone you believe is worthy of this recognition, please consider nominating them! Nominations are due January 3rd. NOMINATE SOMEONE Citizen of the Year 2017 Tamra Peters and Bill Carney

Donate to Make Albert Great

Help us make improvements to the playground at Albert Park! We've identified funding in the city budget, but are about $100,000 short of the goal to achieve the vision. The B Team and Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association have teamed up to help us raise the remaining funds. And, join us for dinner at The State...

Santa Cop Toy Drive

Drop off a new, unwrapped toy or game, or several, into one of the barrels around town and bring a smile to a child's face this holiday season. Toys of all kinds are needed; from Baby’s First Blocks to Candyland, Pimki Pops to Lego sets. Donations will be accepted until December 19. DONATE

City of San Rafael Completes Third Solar Project

We recently completed our third municipal solar project to reduce emissions and boost renewable energy sources. The 3rd & C Street Garage will have an annual greenhouse gas reduction of 98 tons. The three solar arrays (also, at the Boro Community Center and our Public Works building) are estimated to save the City $35,000 in...

Launching Mobile Showers in Marin

Based on the 2017 Homeless Point-in-Time Count, there are approximately 1,100 people experiencing homeless in Marin County. Over 70% of Marin's homeless community resides outside of San Rafael. In an effort to simultaneously reach people outside of San Rafael, de-concentration services in Downtown San Rafael, and get people plugged into the County of Marin's new...

Now accepting 2018 'Citizen of the Year' nominations

Each year, we recognize a member of the community for their contributions in making San Rafael an amazing place to live and work. If you know someone you believe is worthy of this recognition, please consider nominating them! Nominations are due January 3rd. For information about the selection criteria & guidelines, past recipients and an...

Will there be an effort in the County to engage the Latino community to become citizens? i.e. People that may be eligible to become citizens.

Such engagement efforts are not a requirement of the CVRA, which only addresses the change from at-large elections to district-based elections, nor of the decision to be made by the City Council whether to transition to district-based elections during the time period allowed by the law. It is a related matter, however, which may be...

How will the City involve the entire community in the public process and keep them involved? How will the City ensure people affected, i.e. people of color, have opportunity to speak and be involved beyond just public comment?

The City held a study session on November 20 and has held public hearings on December 4, December 18 and January 16 to receive public input. Now that the City Council has decided to transition to district-based elections, the City Council will hold multiple meetings over a period of not more than 90 days in...

Can you provide a summary of pros and cons from the Palmdale decision to go to trial? Can we apply those to our community?

CVRA cases are highly fact- and jurisdiction-specific, so applying the result in one jurisdiction to another is very difficult. San Rafael has far different demographics and electoral history, and there were a number of unique aspects to the Palmdale case. This is especially the case as there is no Court of Appeal decision (on the...

Can information be translated into Spanish from meetings?

Yes, the City is arranging for Spanish translations of written agenda materials on this matter, and for the presence of a Spanish-speaking translator at the public meetings.

Is there data that can evaluate the pluses and minuses of a less homogenous council? For example, data that would show if you have regional or district elections do you have a much more contentious council advocating for its own district rather than the entire city?

City staff is not aware of any quantitative data that addresses this, though there is qualitative scholarship and case law recognizing the possibility that districts could lead to more concern for one’s district at the expense of a “big-picture” view. However, the extent to which this is true varies by jurisdiction.

What is the real candidate’s cost to run a citywide election vs. a district wide election? Can we project cost to run for a contested district seat?

The costs vary based upon the candidate’s approach. There are no City-mandated costs under either system.

Can the City delay creating district voting until the census and can that decision be negotiated? What would the cost be to delay? Has it been done in other jurisdictions? How would the Council delay the implementation of districts and any related cost? What is the optics of waiting until the 2020 census to create districts? What is the community opinion? And are there examples of other communities that have done similar?

The City’s outside counsel advises that the City has the option to delay implementing district-based elections until after the 2020 Census, and a number of jurisdictions took this approach preceding the last Census (in 2010). However, litigation under the CVRA has become substantially more active since that time, and this approach would not necessarily avoid...

Does the City have a choice between 4 or 5 districts? What input can community give regarding 5 districts? What input can we make to ensure City investigates 5 districts thoroughly, as opposed to 4 districts?

Article IV, Section 2 of the Charter provides that “all elections to fill public offices and elections on measures shall be made, held and conducted in the manner provided by law.” Thus, Staff has concluded that under this provision, a vote of the people is not required to change to district-based elections for the four...

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